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DCCXLII (A XV, 12)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ASTURA, 10 JUNE

I AM glad to hear about Buthrotum.1 But I had sent Tiro, as you bade me, to Dolabella with a letter. What harm can it do? About our friends at Antium I think my last letter was sufficiently full and explicit. It must have convinced you that they intended to take no active step, but to avail themselves of Antony's insulting favour. Cassius would have nothing to do with the corn business. Servilia said that she would get it cut out of the senatorial decree.2 Our friend Brutus, however, assumes very tragic airs and says after agreeing with me that he cannot be safe at Rome -that he will start for Asia as soon as he has handed over the equipment for the games to those who are to hold them, for he prefers to give them, though he won't be present at them. He is collecting vessels. He is full of his voyage. Meanwhile they intend to stay where they are. Brutus indeed says that he will visit Astura. Lucius Antonius on his part writes to me in a courteous tone bidding me have no anxiety. I owe him one favour, perhaps I shall owe him another if he comes to my Tusculan house. What unendurable worries! Yet we do endure them after all. "Which of the Bruti (oh rightly named !) is to blame for this ?" In

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1 The favourable decision of the consuls. See pp. 94-95. 2 The decree promoted by Antony seems to have had two provisions : (a) an indemnity to Brutus and Cassius for being absent from Rome during their prætorship; (b) an appointment to a curatio annonæ in Sicily and Asia. The compromise suggested by Servilia seems to have been that the first should be passed, but not the second, or if it named Sicily and Asia as the places to which they were authorized to go, that the purpose (the curatio annona) should not be mentioned.

3 Lucius Antonius was a tribune. He seems to have written to Cicero telling him that he need have no anxiety as to the rumoured intention of attacking his house at Tusculum. See p. 65.

4 Cicero seems to be punning on the word brutus, "stupid," and to hesitate as to which of the two Bruti was most to blame for the present

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Octavianus, as I have perceived, there is no little ability and spirit; and he seems likely to be as well disposed to our heroes as I could wish. But what confidence one can feel in a man of his age, name, inheritance, and upbringing may well give us pause. His stepfather, whom I have seen at Astura, thinks none at all. However, we must foster him and if nothing else-keep him apart from Antony. Marcellus will be doing admirable service if he gives him good advice. Octavian seemed to me to be devoted to him but he has no great confidence in Pansa and Hirtius. His disposition is good, if it does but last.

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DCCXLIII (A XV, 16 a)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ASTURA, II JUNE

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AT length a letter-carrier from my son! And, by Hercules, a letter elegantly expressed, shewing in itself some progress. Others also give me excellent reports of him. Leonides, however, still sticks to his favourite "at present.' But Herodes speaks in the highest terms of him. In short, I am glad even to be deceived in this matter, and am not sorry to be credulous. Pray let me know if Statius has written to you anything of importance to me.

situation-Marcus for refusing to include Antony in the assassination, or Decimus for not using the troops which he possessed as governor of Cisalpine Gaul against Antony.

1 This is the first time that Cicero gives the young Augustus the name which acknowledges his adoption by Cæsar's will. Though the full formalities were not carried out for another year, he was by that adoption Gaius Iulius Cæsar Octavianus (instead of Octavius). 2 Husband of Octavia, Octavian's sister. Consul B. C. 49. 4 See p. 32.

3 The text is corrupt.

DCCXLIV (A XV, 16 b)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ASTURA (12 JUNE)

I TELL you what! this is a lovely place-retired at any rate and, if you want to write anything, free from anyone to spy you out. But somehow or other "home is sweet" and my feet draw me back to Tusculum. And after all one seems very soon likely to have enough of the somewhat artificial charms of this pretty coast. I am also for my part afraid of rain, if our prognostics are true; for the frogs are loudly "discoursing." Please let me know where and on what day I can see Brutus.

DCCXLV (A XV, 15)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ASTURA, 13 JUNE

CONFOUND Lucius Antonius, if he makes himself troublesome to the Buthrotians! I have drawn out a deposition which shall be signed and sealed whenever you please. As for the money of the Arpinates, if the ædile1 L. Fadius asks for it, pay him back every farthing. In a previous letter I mentioned to you a sum of 110 sestertia to be paid to Statius. If, then, Fadius applies for the money, I wish it paid to him, and to no one except Fadius. I think that amount was put into my hands, and I have written to Eros to produce it.

I can't stand the Queen: and the voucher for her promises, Hammonius, knows that I have good cause for saying

1 Chief magistrate of Arpinum. See vol. iii., p. 63 (Fam. xiii. 11).

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SO. What she promised, indeed, were all things of the learned sort and suitable to my character-such as I could avow even in a public meeting. As for Sara, besides finding him to be an unprincipled rascal, I also found him inclined to give himself airs to me. I only saw him once at my house. And when I asked him politely what I could do for him, he said that he had come in hopes of finding Atticus.2 The Queen's insolence, too, when she was living in Cæsar's trans-Tiberine villa, I cannot recall without a pang. I won't have anything to do therefore with that lot. They think not so much that I have no spirit, as that I have scarcely any proper pride at all. My leaving Italy is hindered by Eros's way of doing business. For whereas from the balances struck by him on the 5th of April I ought to be well off, I am obliged to borrow, while the receipts from those paying properties of mine I think have been put aside for building the shrine. But I have charged Tiro to see to all this, whom I am sending to Rome for the express purpose.

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I did not wish to add to your existing embarrassments. The steadier the conduct of my son, the more I am vexed at his being hampered. For he never mentioned the subject to me the first person to whom he should have done so. But he said in a letter to Tiro that he had received nothing since the 1st of April-for that was the end of his financial year. Now I know that your own kind feeling always caused you to be of opinion that he ought to be treated not only with liberality, but with splendour and generosity, and that you also considered that to be due to my position. Wherefore pray see-I would not have troubled you if I could have done it through anyone else—that he has a bill of exchange at Athens for his year's allowance. Eros will pay you the money. I am sending Tiro on that business. Pray therefore see to it, and write and tell me any idea you may have on the subject.

Probably books. Cicero once before jestingly said that he could take a present of books without breaking the law. See vol. i., p. 60. 2 The implied discourtesy seems to consist in Sara's professing to be at Cicero's levée for the sake of seeing some one else, not Cicero himself. 3 In memory of Tullia (see vol. iii., p. 206, sq.). The design has not been mentioned for a long time now, but apparently had not yet definitely been abandoned.

DCCXLVI (A XV, 17)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ASTURA, 14 JUNE

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I RECEIVED two letters on the 14th, one dated the same day, the other the day before. First, then, to the earlier one. Yes, tell me about Brutus when you know. I am informed about the pretended terror of the consuls.1 For Sicca had-with loyal warmth indeed, but somewhat confusedly—already informed me of that suspicion also. Well, what is your opinion? Is it, "Never refuse a good offer "?3 For I haven't a word from Siregius.* I don't like it. I am very much annoyed that anyone was informed about your neighbour Plætorius before myself. As to Syrus, you acted with wisdom. You will, I think, have no difficulty in keeping Lucius Antonius off by means of his brother." I told you not to pay Antro, but you had not received my letter telling you not to pay anyone but L. Fadius. I am not at all angry with Arabio about Sittius. I don't think of starting on my journey unless my accounts are all square, and I think you agree with me in that. So much for your earlier letter.

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Now for the other. It is like your usual kindness to serve

1 Their pretence of being afraid of some violence on the part of Brutus and Cassius.

2 Unless this refers to the previous clause we have no means of knowing what suspicion he means. For Sicca, see vol. i., p. 142; vol. ii., p. 275. 3 See vol. ii., p. 180 : τὰ μὲν διδόμενα, sc. δέχου.

4 Unknown. Some suggest Sara regio (see last letter).

5 This may refer to the recall of M. Plætorius Cestianus. He had been condemned in B.C. 51 (vol. ii., p. 89).

6 L. Antonius, as tribune, seems to have threatened to stop the measure of relief for the Buthrotians. See p. 73.

7 See last letter. Antro was a freedman.

8 P. Sittius of Nuceria was an old friend of Cicero's; but we don't know what is referred to here.

? It is uncertain what ▲ means (perhaps λoíny, “balance”). See

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